Svalan

Maria Kalaniemi's latest release Svalan (Swallow) shows her throwing caution to the wind, heading into the countryside of her childhood, and making friends with the owls and bears in the Finnish forests. I've long been an admirer of accordionist Maria Kalaniemi; now I've decided I'd like to go travelling with her.

You can hear a sense of freedom in her voice as she remembers Swedish-Finnish ballads, while the elegance of her accordion playing, for which she is renowned, becomes part of a natural landscape that mixes beauty and danger, and the sounds of the birds and animals. Of course I couldn't possibly match the brilliance of her chosen travelling companions on this recording: Eero Grundström (of the Sväng harmonica quartet) playing a harmonium that folds down like some portable barbecue; guitarist Mikko Kosonen; and jouhikko (Finnish bowed lyre) player Pekko Käppi. Kalaniemi also thanks Noksu the raven and Apassi the wolfdog…

Whether evocative of freezing nights or long rainy days, each track takes us into some wild place with trusted and inspiring musical friends. ‘Music cannot be explained,’ says Kalaniemi. That's her invitation to you.